Time for Dish and there’s a good bit of it for a change, so let’s start talkin! First, remember that there are repeats of AMC and OLTL for Thursday with no GH airing. No soaps at all air on ABC on Friday. Good news, bad news. Good news is that now FULL EPISODES of OLTL and AMC are now available to watch in streaming video (a download plug in is required for most) on www.abc.com. Bad news is that while it says they are available after 4pm the day of airing, that seems to be more of a guideline than a solid policy.

Came the sad news that ATWT has been canceled with CBS refusing to renew it for the 2010/2011 year. It will last air in September 2010. ATWT is the longest running soap in daytime.

OLTL especially has been hitting rumors of cancellation since it has long been the red-headed stepchild of ABC and has recently, despite clearly being the best scripted, best directed and best acted soap on the network, had ratings that are right in the shitter. Here is a quote straight from the head honcho, Brian Frons, President of ABC Daytime, “Even though other soaps are being canceled, we’re still dedicated to ours. We’re very proud of them and have big plans for the future.”

AMC

Daniel Kennedy, the 9000th or so Petey Courtlandt, has been let go from AMC and will not be making the move to LA with the cast. He has played the role since July 2008. The actor says he saw the writing on the wall when the part of Colby was recast after the former Colby, Brianne Moncrief, had been offered a package to relocate only to have it later revoked and the role recast with Natalie Hall. There is no exit show for Pete. His last airing was the Halloween episode and some lame-ass “he fell in love with another girl” mention in passing is supposedly his only reference.

While Petey is temporarily indisposed with his irrational story of falling for someone decidedly not Colby, Mom Opal will still be in the mix. After Charles Pratt was booted out as Head Writer, one of the first moves of “somebody” was to put Jill Larson back on contract where she should have always been. She’s off to LA with the cast and crew now.

Speaking of Head Writers, there is still no announcement of who will be sitting in the Head Writer’s chair in the new digs. While many presumed that the return of soap vet writer Lorraine Broderick meant that she would be taking up the sacred pen, AMC is screaming loud and long that she is merely an ASSOCIATE WRITER and not a HEAD WRITER. OK, already, we get it. We can only hope they aren’t holding the position until Megan McTavish is extricated from whatever cave she was banished to after her last firing. The entire AMC-loving nation crosses itself and says a prayer after reading that, I am sure. Supposedly, the most fertive whispers are coming from the cast who are vocally (of course, I mean, they want to stay employed) expressing their complete confidence in the process, but are buzzing behind their guarded hands that some of the damage done during Pratt’s reign of terror can be repaired in the right hands.

One actor who seems genuinely sad to see Pratt leave is everyone’s all around nice guy, Michael E. Knight, who says that the writer was, “…good to Tad.” The next regime looks like it will be pretty good to Tad as well as he is set to be paired up with Liza for another go at romance. She will be antsy about his continued closeness with Krystal, but I have to wonder if there is actually going to be a baby in the mix for them.

Finn Wittrock, who plays Damon, has been put on contract and will be following the show to LA.

The football Chuck Pratt spikes over the goal line before disappearing from the game is Greenlee’s return, which was his all around wet dream. She opens her eyes tomorrow. Despite early reports to the contrary, Daddy Jackson isn’t far behind and yes, Greenlee will be ready to fight Erica to get back her man.

Soap Opera Digest reports that AMC is working to recast the role of Amanda Martin. Chrishell Stause twittered just a couple of weeks ago that she was remaining on the show and making the move to LA, so reports on this are conflicting.

As I am seeing stills from the upcoming (Jan 4th) 40th anniversary show, I notice that it seems several of the vets have been “refreshed.” God bless’em.

Darnell Williams is excited to have Julia Barr (Brooke English) back on the set, if only for a brief moment. He proclaims her abrupt dismissal to be, “a bonehead move” in ABC Soaps in Depth.

Rumors say that the anniversary show will focus on a death and at first I was worried it would be Opal. Larson’s contract refutes that idea, so now I am highly concerned about the return of James Mitchell for a brief stint as Palmer. If they kill off Palmer while Mitchell still lives, they are going to have one pissed off (even more pissed off) ex-fan on their hands.

The Chandlers will be marrying yet again as Annie and Adam decide to celebrate their freedom by renewing their vows. I have to wonder if anyone will show up. After yet another health scare takes down the patriarch, he makes some changes to his will that do not sit well with others.

Ray MacDonnell has officially retired as Dr. Joe. His final scenes are taped and ready for airing. Ooooh. Wonder if HE is the one they are killing off???

GH

The introduction of James Franco’s character into Port Charles supposedly pre-empted a number of stories that were intended to unfold, but ended up being pushed aside in favor of showcasing their shiny new toy. Chief among them were the revelation of Sam’s father, the introduction of the new Cassadine villain, a pregnancy and miscarriage for Kristina and an earlier wind up to the Nikolas/Elizabeth/Lucky triangle.

Although Franco’s story will continue on for a while, the actor left the building some time ago. All of his scenes are “canned,” pre-taped at a hard core rate of 21 episodes in 3 days’ time. Steve Burton (Jason) speaks highly of Franco’s ability to process that much material in such a short period of time and bring a strong performance to the table. Franco last airs on January 11th.

Remember back when Lucky used to sing to Elizabeth?

Well, he’s going to do it again about a minute and a half before he walks in on Nikolas and Elizabeth basically on the down stroke. This takes him on a kind of downward spiral thing that brings out his “dark side” and as a result, reconnects him with Luke and as a result of THAT, poor Ethan feels displaced from the role of Favorite Son. That can’t be too fun after losing Rebecca to Chad Brannon, now, can it?

In even more Spencer drama, when the truth comes out, both Luke and Sonny are going to have a problem with Lulu and Dominic/Dante dating and it’s going to turn into a bit of a Romeo and Juliet thing for a while.

Meanwhile in other regions of the Land of La Petite Corinthoses, Ethan will also be taken to task by Alexis who takes Keifer the Woman Beater’s side over Ethan’s. Alexis seemingly is not a very good judge of character and criminals, so why she is the DA I just so can’t even imagine. Sigh. Where’s Scott Baldwin when I need him?

Watch for a quick change on January 6th when Julie Mond is out as Dr. Lisa Niles and Briana Brown is in. Yawn.

Gitcher Scrubs right cheer! Both Kimberly McCullough and Jason Thompson (Robin & Patrick) have signed new contracts with the show. The powers that be seem determined to shake up and break up this couple, but we’ll see!

OLTL

EVERYBODY who was ever on this show seems to be coming back. Here is a brief run down:

Snoop Dogg: Bo’s buddy will be back on February 24th to do a track from his new album, “Malice N Wonderland” and yes, he’ll be hooking up with Bo. Here’s most of his last visit:

Then on to part 2, which is my favorite and includes Rex and Bo and…

…ol Bitchy Bangs, who is next on our return list. That’s right. Melissa Fumero is scheduled for a brief return of 4 episodes around the time that…

Gina Tognoni returns as Kelly, scheduled for February 12th.

Dan Gauthier will also return for a very limited time to segue her story onto the canvas permanently as is…

Laura Bonarrigo as Cassie. Her stay is open ended, but is not considered to be permanent.

Before that, in January, Stephen Markel shows up briefly as Mel, Dorian’s late husband, who will give her a ghostly message that “the worst is yet to come.” I just wish they would bring him back for real!

Nelson Branco of TV Guide Canada has reported that Roscoe Born is out as Mitch after just a couple of months. He supposedly will continue to air into the new year as Mitch’s current story finalizes.

That brings us to Nurse Gayle Charles (what are the chances that both OLTL and AMC could both have characters named “Nurse Gayle” who show up out of the blue again at the same time?) who manifests to do Mitch’s bidding, which in this case is to attack Stacy. I can completely relate to that.

Which moves us on to the news that Crystal Hunt (Stacy) has evidently been let go from OLTL and will be winding up her story soon.

Speaking of misplace paternity, Dani’s wannabe dad, Ross Rayburn, isn’t quite as dead as he seems. On January 11th, Tea will find out that Dani is in touch with Ross. He was last seen on December 14th when he plummeted to his (not)death from the bridge into Canada. Lowry actually has, for the past 3 years, played with an AC/DC cover band of his own creation. What’s it called? “Done Dirt Cheap,” of course.

Kevin O’Rourke will be back as the nefarious (not)Mayor Stanley Lowell and what, you may ask, is his capacity on the show? Turns out he is Mitch’s choice to replace Bo as the LPD’s Chief of Police. Dorian will appoint him under duress since he was responsible for Starr and Hope being kidnapped. Addie will show up to give her input to that situation, so add Pamela Payton Wright to the list of returns (yayyy).

Continuing the idea of those Cramers and “yayyyy” and the people in their world, Tuc Watkins will be back on January 13th as David. Yayyy.

Ford, his producer, played by David Gregory, comes back on December 29th. (yayyy again!) According to Head Writer, Ron Carlivati, he will be around “for a while.”

Kyle and Fish will at long last consummate their burning man passion “toward the end of the year.” They’d best get to it ’cause we’re burning daylight with only a handful of days left of the year… unless they didn’t mean THIS year.

Lastly, Trevor St. John (Todd) will star in the new Wes Craven movie, “My Soul to Take,” which comes out next year. He appears with a lot of people I do not know and Nick from Prison Break (who is also Hart from Guiding Light). St John plays a detective hunting down a killer and the story runs from 1993 to the present day. (What??? Today???) Advance aging make up is used, so if you see this movie, prepare to see Old Todd.

That’s all for now! I wish you and yours an amazing holiday season!